Golf practice apparatus



T. J. BUTLER GOLF PRACTICE APPARATUS Sept. 12, 1950 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 001; 16, 1946 Sept. 12, 1950 T. J. BUTLER 2,521,776

GOLF PRACTICE APPARATUS Filed Oct. 16, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 12, 1950 T. J. BUTLER 2,521,776

GOLF PRACTICE APPARATUS Filed Oct. 16, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 76082;???- 720mm: cJZBc /ZZer,

Sept 12,1950 T.J.BUTLERI GOLF PRACTICE APPARATUS 8 Sheets-s 4 med Oct. 16, 1946 mezzfig, 1 6a;

BY 5/2 wzm P 1950 11.1. BUTLER 2,521,776

I sow PRACTICE APPARATUS Filed Oct. 16, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 mu 5 w! 'IWI Sept. 12, 1950 T. J. BUTLER GOLF PRACTICE APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Oct. 16, 1946 p 2, 1950 T. J. BUTLER 2,521,776

GOLF PRACTICE APPARATUS Filed Oct. 16, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented Sept. 12, 1950 UNITED STATES GOLF PRACTICE Arr RA Us 1 Thomas J. Butler, Harrison, N. I. v Application oaths 16, 194.6, snnino. 793. 584? 8 Claims. (01. 73- 379) I This invention relates to apparatus for practicing golf ball driving strokes, which may'al'so be utilized in playing a game simulating the game of golf in so far as the latter involves ball driving strokes.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel apparatus adapted to be operated by use of a golf ball driving club, the user taking the same stance and exercising the same swing of the club as would be taken and exercised when actually playing a game of golf over a golf course; the apparatus being adapted, when so operated, to indicate distance of flight of a golf ball which would be attained by a'given club stroke impacting the same, as well as the angular direction of such flight and degree of hook or slice imparted, if any, either to the right or left as the case may be.

The invention has for another object to provide,

in apparatus of the kind mentioned, a novel golfvide, for use in conjunction with the distance and angle indicating means of the apparatus, means for quickly and easily calculating the effective distance of approach to the cup attained by a.

given stroke of a swung club when accompanied by a hook or slice imparted thereby.

Further objects and novel features of this in.-

vention will morefully appear from the following detailed description of the invention.

Illustrative embodiments of this invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which;

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the golf practice appaq ratus as set ready for play; Fig. 2 is a side ele-,

vational view of the same; Fig. 3 is an end elevational View of the same; Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view, taken on line 4-4 in Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view, taken on line 55 in Fig. 2; and Fig.6 is

a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken on line 66 in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on line 1-1 in Fig. 1; Fig.

7A is a view similar to that of Fig. '7, but show-r.

ing the detent plate released; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical'sectional View, taken on line 88 in Fig. 1; Fig. 9 is'afragment sectional'view, taken on line 99 in Fig. 8.

ary horizontal 55:

"Fig. 10 is plan vifew'of the golf practice 'de-, vice'after play; FigQll is a transverse verticalsectiohalfviemtaken on line l l l l in Fig- 10; I2 is a-fragmentaryj horizontal sectional view, taken online i2 :z nrig;11 7,

Figs. 13 @to 1 7 inclusive, areovarious' detail viewsl oflthejspindle structure and worm wheel which form'parts of the ball flight distanceindicator means of the, apparatus; and'Fig. 18 is an en-. larged fragmentary sectional View, similar tothatj; ofjFig. 11', but 'showingin-i'nore detail the speed" control means of said flight distance indicator.

Fig. 19, is a detail horizontal sectional viewof the golf ball simulating element of the apparatus, taken ,on'line l9+ l9 in Figl'ii; and Figs. 20. to inclusive are various detailviews of said golf ball. simulating element," Figsi, .23, 24 and 25 thereof showing the manner ofj manipulatingsaid elemerit vfor detachably assemblingthe samein op.- erative connection'with the apparatus;

26' is a fragmentary plan view of the aptparatus as mounted andcountersunk in a pit pro vided thereforj at a practice green; Fig. 27 is a, side elevational.view' thereof; Fig.28is a trans-Q verse verticalsectional View, taken on line 28-+-28' in Fig. 27; and Fig. 29 is a plan view ofa'co'ver member for the ball flight indicatortransmission,

Fig. 30 is an 'view of a scaled device for calculating the effective distance of approach to thecup attained by a ,given club'stroke when accompanied by hookjor slice; Fig. 31 is a ,frag mentary faceview. of one of} the scale members showing a preferred 1 form n of scale graduations thereof; Fig. 32 a' planview, Fig; 33a side edge View, and Fig.- 34 an end viewof the scaled device as positioned in; use; and Fig. 35 is a fragmentary face View of.jintersecting .scale members thereof in operated relation. v

Fig. 36 is. a diagram of a ball flight indicated by the apparatus, calculation of the resultant ef-.

cula ed by said scaled device. t

Fig, 311s an lexemplification of a scorecard showing stroke attainments of two players when fectiveapproach tothecup of which can be calusing theapparatu's for a competitive game purbetweensaid pivot post 1 and the carrier arm hub portion 8. Said bushing is of greater height than the pivot post 1, so that the upper end portion of the bushing projects beyond the upper" a extremity of the pivot post thus providing a;

chamber I I above the latter which is adapted to serve as a reservoir for lubricating oil. Leading i from the chamber l l downwardly and obliquely hr us h ree s r i q i ihe pivot s ra i ii' mvs pa -t r e u in 10.. s alubricating oil ieed'passage l2 which termi=- ngtes thehearing wall fofl the. b, portion a,- I

whereby to deliver lubricating oil to -andbeween h e in sur a s sa d: u portion a d bs hina "A 219 et aiuratab hre s mater ali hre e b y in ted nt a em i l ld n a d sr d a vgiv nsu the ubr ate c oil (see 6),. The'lo wer. end oisaidhub portion dis ant awayto form; a notch which terv minatesat its respective ends in stopshoulders,

s Sai seaside rea ae d s wq rat with p a .fixed. stop. pin l5, which projects from v the base I, wherebyto limitswi nging movements of the carrier arm 9 resp ec tively to the right or diot's e -"ee in 's ni lsi e 'Ifhel. forward end pogfition oi the, base "I termi.-.

an a e aie, porti 15,- av n an in;

clined or beveled face uponrwhichiis inounte d a,

tale Pla UL a d talemate i a ua in nemiaw tes a t e. ight an e r ms ime swh qh. s ammed he 1 .927 7- al; sent a pe t q i f, as iv t d ierrm said raduates m ed brsie a eadr p. degreesmm Z ro bothto he right and;

to s v l git Suitabl flixedj wi es uh ort on slot he oarrier'arrn Qjisan indicating pointer IB adapted p-a oolqerate withtne. erad atedec le a ehe i arri n e mtt erieeis sh t i 'ee end in a charnbered hous'ng liilnwl iiclfris, suitably.

r ea de e ar ie un is Ala d l if r otatable es m n th dri r hait fig i he ball i ht ist n n efiet i the appa Sa r rei eit a hus ,-su 9 tf s.$r sp sed. that-its axisis transverse to ,the. longitudinal axis,

orthe. carrier. arm 3, The outer end-.portionu of said drive shaft 22 projectsexteriorlyirorn thehousing mat the carrier; arxncside of the latter, and afiixed to said. exteriorly projecting end i of he dri e tq rl ies taesu ar r ther from isa crank-arm 2 3, Saidcranh-ann. ter-mi-h a e at t u e r esnd n an tachm n ec 2A, with which the ball simulating elements of the appara u a be erat lv butds sthebl aged, in the manner and for purposes herein- 1.,

aite-lfemore fully-described. Said crank-arm 2.3, theball simulating-element attached thereto, is substantially counterbalancedbyan oppo he vex n rea i e ses io :3"o c a kwhich-isdispo sed-to extend-from theoppoter de, i i driveeh f It and unonrwhich ea nd or s Q ten ion-12% adi abl mpunteda counterbalanceweight fi,

le male e e eviieble eer n me ea fi w th 4 which the bottom of the housing i9 is provided, so as to extend upwardly through the housing, and to project exteriorly beyond the top cover 2"! of the latter, is a rotatable spindle 28. Fixed on said spindle 28, within the interior of the housing, is a worm-wheel 29. Suitably connected with the inner end of the drive shaft 22, so as to be rotated thereby, is a worm 38 which meshes with and drives said worm-wheel 29, whereby to rotate said spindle 28. ldounted on the, upper, exterior-1y projecting end of the spindle 28, in frictionally clutched relation thereto, whereby to be 'rotated by the spindle and yet free to be manually rotatedrelative thereto when necessity requires, is a scaled indicator dial 3]. Said indicator dial31=is=of circular shape, and the marginal partoiitsupper-face is graduated to provide a scale indicative of ball flight distance in yards;

said scalebeing preferably calibrated to indicate one hundred yards per complete revolution of the indicatondialfil. One illustrative, means for-effecting the frictionally v clutchediattachment of; the indicator; dial S-litoithe. spindle 28, asshown, comprises a com-r pression spring 32 which is mounted around;the

spindle'below the dialyandwhioh isv adaptedto thrust: upwardly againstailower clutch plateorwasher 33': which abuts and irictionally engages the underside of said dial. 'An upper clutch plate or washer 3siis engaged lover the spindle to abut dial tached to the spindle 28 by engagement inan annular-receiving groove 35-with-which the outer end portion of said-spindle 28: is provided;

As shownmore particularly in Figs. 13 to 17 inclusive, means is provided for maintaining lubrication of" the spindle 28 and its worm gearing, so'that the earne and the dial 3]- operated-thereby,-*may turn freely with a minirnurn of frictional resistance.- To this end; the spindle 28 is providedjwith an axialduct El] which descends therethrough from its upper end, and which terminates in a radial outlet portion 38 which isloe cated' above the 'level of the worm wheel 29. Seated upon the upper face of said worm-wheel Zil'isa reservoir disc 35'of'saturatable material, 1. .91: ere; asfe a e e r ash 40 si mmsed ne a sc r eneath ha s d of he above rnentionedcompression spring 32, whereby he-la ter. al o func ns tohold said disc as in contact with the wormzwheel 29, The worm: wheel 23 is also provided with a duct 4| which descends through the hub thereof so as to dis.-

teethof. the latter, and, consequently, the worm 3!]; which meshes therewith; Some oil will also seep from; the reservoir disc 39, to descend through the, duct 41. of the worm-ewheel; so. asto dis-,

charge therefrom upon; and then descend the surface vof the spindle 28E tothe supporting: hearing- In this manner the spindle and; its driving gearing, is keptinrwell lubricated free moving condition.,- The driyashaft 2 2 Yand ;its bearings-2q -2.|, may

2 6 whereby to lubricate; these parts ofiset body 43. This body 43 serves as an initial landing or contacting surface over which a swung club may move as it approaches the ball simulating element hereinafter described.

Hingedly mounted in connection with the standard head 3, for forward projection therefrom and above the downwardly inclined bracket portion 4 thereof, and so as to swing through a vertical arcol plane, is a detent plate 44. One illustrative means adapted to hingedly support said detent plate, as shown, comprises'the prvision of perforate hinge ears 45 which are formed by forwardly projecting free end por tions of bars-45 which are respectively secured to the sides of the body 43. Afiixed to the rearward end portion of said detent plate 44 is a yoke, the angular perforate ends of which provide hinge knuckles 4i. Engaged through the hinge ears 4 and knuckles 4! is a transverse hinge pin 48. Mounted around said hinge pin 48.15 a torsion spring 49, one arm 50 of which is stopped against the head bracket portion 4, and the other arm 51! of which engages the underside of the detent plate 44 so as to yieldably exert an upswinging thrust thereupon. Said detent plate is preferably formed to taper laterally toward its free end, and said free end is indented by a central V-shaped notch 52, the purpose-of which will presently appear. Suitably aflixed upon the inclined bracket portion 4 of the standardhead 5 is a shock-absorbing buffer block 55 made of a suitable resilient material, such e. g; as soft rubber. When said detent plate 44 is released subject to up-swinging movement under" the thrust of the torsion spring 49, such upswinging movement will be arrested and limited, with a minimum of' shock, by impingement of the rear end of said detent plate upon said buffer block (see Fig. 7A).

Detachably connected by the attachment hook 24 to the crank-arm 23 of the ball flight distance indicating means, is a ball simulating ele-"- ment 54. Said ball simulating element comprises a semispherical. body of rubber or other material which is characterized by a suitable degree of resiliency. Secured to-said ball simulating element 5%, to project from the flat under-' side thereof, is a metallic U-shaped'coupling or eye 55, the legs of which enter the body of said element, and are preferably firmly and securely anchored thereto by a metallic anchor plate 55 which is molded into said body to lie transversely 24. To this end, the gap 5? between the shank: of said hook 24 and its bill 58 is sized to be of less width than the normal transverse diameter of a leg portion of the coupling link or eye 55, and one of said leg portions is indented to provide a laterally reduced or narrowed portion 59, whichis dimensioned to easily pass through said gap 5'l' ofthe crank-arm hook. To effect soupied-attachment of the ball simulating element 54 to the crank-arm hook"24, the former is turned to dispose its coupling link or eye sub stantially right angularly to the axis of the crank-arm 23, whereupon the narrowed portion 59 of a leg part of the coupling link'or eye is brought into alignment with the hook gap 51 and pushed inwardly therethrough (see Fig. 23) whereafter the ball simulating element is rotated to displace said narrowed portion 59 relative to the hook gap 51 (see Fig. 24), and then said ball simulating element is rupswung to normal longitudinally aligned extension from said crank-arm 23, in which position a full width portion of the coupling link or eye is opposed to the lesser width Of'Said hook gap (see Fig. 25), and consequently accidental escape of the ball simulating element from the embrace of said hook 24 is prevented.

Engaged on the shank of'the crank-arm hook 24, so as to frictionallybind thereon, and yet adapted to be longitudinally slid, thereon toward the hook end thereof, is means which is Operative to retain the ball simulating element 54 in upstanding longitudinal extension from the crank-arm 23, said means being at the same time subject to be engaged by the detent plate 44, when the latter is depressed, whereby said detent plate 44 will operate to releasably hold, said crank-arm 23 and the ball simulating element disposed in what may be said to be a teed position, ready to receive the-impact of a golf club as swung by a user of the apparatus. This means comprises a check member having a sleeve-like body 60 which'is provided, at the side thereof toward the detent plate 44, with a laterally projecting check-nosing 61' which is adapted to overhang and engage the free end of the detent plate 44, when the latter isdepressed. Said check member is preferably made of rubber so that, by its elastic constriction, it will frictionally bind itself to the shank of the crank-arm hook, when moved to a given position thereon. Said check member 55 is adapted to be slid upwardly upon the shank of said crank-arm hook 24, so

as to abut and frictionally engage the end of the coupling link'oreye 55 of the ball simulating element 5 -1, whereby, at proper times, to hold said element against pivoting on said hook 24, and thus against accidental displacement from desired upstanding longitudinal extension from the end of the crank-arm 23 (see Figs. 2'and 8). Preparatory to use. of the apparatus, the ball simulating element 54 is set in position to receive impact of a golf club,-when the latter is swung by the user, and also the ball flight and angle of flight indicating means are disposed at normal initial zero setting. To thisend, the detent plate 44 is swung down against the tension of its spring 49 to horizontal forwardly projecting position, whereupon the crank-arm 23' isup-swung to upstanding position so as to engage in the notch 52 4 of said detent plate (see Fig. 9), and so that the free end of said detent plate 44 is engaged beneath the check-nosing 5| of the check member 60 (see Figs. 2 and 8). The engagement of the crank-arm 23 in the notch 5201? the detent plate 44 assures that the carrier-arm 9 has'been properly positioned so that its indicator pointer l8 registers on the mid zero mark of the scale H, thus effecting a normal initial setting of the angle of ball flight indicating means. The ball simulating element 54 is now upturned into axially aligned-extensionjfrom'the crank-arm 23, and

is maintained in such' erect position byjsliding the resilientcheck member 60' upwardly on the cranks-airmen; o,-- ha :-th. nn r. and of .thecheck member: x rtsiam npthrl fi ins pr ssure unonthe coupling link or; eye, 55, whereby to frictionally bind the same relative to-the hook 24; thereby to hold the "ball simulating; element against accidental disnlacement. from such normal initial erect-and consequently teed position. When, the zwparatusv is thus arranged, inynormal' initial set condition, readycfor use; or; play, the dial 3| is revolved about the spindle; 23 until its zero 15);

forwardso as to: displace the checkenosing 6! from its restraining-hold;upon the detent plate Misc thatthelatter;under theurge Of itsspring 49; immediately fliesmnward; out of the path of reyolying. movement of: the ball simulating element. Wherrstruck the ball simulating element will revolve; counterclockwise as viewed in Fig.- 2, and; willthusrreyolve; the crank-arm 23, tom turnrevolve the drive shaft 22, and thus transmit rotative movement to'the died 31-.

The; force ovf-theclub impact upon theballsimulating element54rwillidetermine the duration of the period? of revolution thereof; and consequentlythe amount ofv rotative movement imparted to the-dial 3 1. Sinceeachcomnlete revolution of said dial 31: indicates a ball flight of one-hundred-yards; the number of dial revolutions is counted; and such number plus any additional partial revolution will indicate the flight distance which would be attained by anormal golf *balLif 'sfi'iruck by a club impact of corresponding force. For; example, one revolution of the dial 31-," plus a.- partial'; revolution terminated at the'forty. -six yard indicating graduation of said dial would: indicate a: ball flight of one-hundred and forty-six yards;

Ifthe contact ofthe swung club with the ball simulatingelementissuchas toproduce aslicing or'hooking-impact toeither theright or left, contact of such characterwill cause the carrier arm-9 to swerve-or swing-to theright or left; as thecase may -be, and1' the amount of such swing andfresultant angular diversion of ball flightirom a; straight lineof; flight toward the objective-or cup will be indicatedaby thepointer= I8-'upon the Scale plate I T:

While the drive shaft: 22" is adapted-town free; under-thespinning impulse imparted thereso to by; the revolvingball simulating element as induced by aswung club'im-pact; it-isldesirable toprovide means forcontrolling the spinning motionsothat response thereof to the-revolu-.

tion of theba-ll; simulating element, andithe re- 65;

flight attained. byra clubimpact of correspond- 70:

ing force, To this end, an; adjustable brake means is provided forcooperation with-the driveshaft 22. Saidbrake. means-- comprises a suite able rcas ng iifliwhi h is affix d tothe ,h using I 9;

commimicate..w th the interioroi-thelatter' at; 75;

' to the effective or mean distanceof approach to acnointqadiiafientto tbadrive shaft: 22.. Threaded; into therouterendor saidcasing dais an.adiust;-- mg; screw 64; upon which, is footeda compression spring 65. Said compression spring 65. thrusts; againsta brake element 6.6, whereby'to; engage the latter with the peripheral surfaceot saiddrive shaft 22; The thrusting force ofsaid? spring a5 may be increased or decreased,- as occasion may require, by manipulating the; adjusting.;screw- 64; whereby to increase or decrease the; braking pressure or the; brake element 6.6: against the drive shaft 221 For example; in war-m or summer weather, when; lubricatingioil: tends to thin, the braking pressure of. the; brake element would; be increased somewhat, whereas; in cold or winter; weather, when lubricating oil? tends tothicken; such; braking pressure would; be; relaxed and decreased in compensation. for: retardingeiiect of the-thickened Oil. on tlie;mo verment of. the dr-iveshaft. and'associated dialrtranse mission mechanism,

ltwiltbeunderstoodthat-,the apparatus may be: used either-indoors-orout, of doors. In thelattercase; it may: and. preferably would be installed. on; a nractice greenaorrgroundz When installed at a practice reen; or ground, it: is preferable toip tovide areceiving pit; in which the same may belodged sot-that thegapparatus may be countersunk therein to such depth that all thereof but the setzhallrsimulating element and the teensv check'member Sir-lies below the surrounding ground level; This. isshown in Figs; 26 to 28 inclusive;;wherein the reference charactenfil intdicates the pit; whichmay-e. g. be suitably formed bya concrete structure.

Inisa-id Figures- 26 to 29'iinclusive is alsoshown a'modified formand arrangement of removableccver'member 2:1. for closing the housing I 9;said

cover; member beingprovidediwith atransverse-t,

fastening strap- 68" having yieldablegripper tongues, ill-to, straddle the. sides of the housing I 9:; Q:-as:;toengageiin cooperating receiving sock-- ets llir with, whichxtheside walls of the housing" are provided.

Ifobetterinstruct-the,user of the apparatus as the assumed: cup; on objective which is attained byas given strokeiof' a swung'club, if the impact of; the club;- is suchzas; to producea slice or hookadapteddoiangularlyr divert the-ballflight frcma raigh ocurse toward'said assumed cup or-"objective; l-ihave-provicleda cooperative instrumentality: fOli quickly and easily calculating the not distance gained toward the assumedcup or 0b"- jective by any given indicated yardage distance: of flight at; ancangular'diversionfrom a straight course; This meansis shown inFigs. to in-- elusive of the; drawings, and comprises a pain of cooperativescale-bars and, each graduated-'- along the; lengthsthereof: to indicate distance inyards. Said scale; bars; are, respectively; pivotally mounted, on; a relatively stationary. supporting. base- 82;. one catl'onesendr thereof andv the other at r theopnosite: end thereon so that, when respectively outswung; laterally from-a normal initial parallel -relation ,,the scale bar 88 may b'e'caused to angularlyoverlapr the scale bar 8t, so that their; respectivescales mayintersect. As shown; the scale bar; 80,2 whichlisrpivoted to the upper endzofi the vbasealilyindicates total: yardage; in a direct line; from a1. teeing-oii' point: to the as sumed-cup-or objectivmits scale reading from it'sfree end towardvits:pivotedend; The scale bar 8% ,gwhich; is; pivoted"tozthe'lower end. of the b'ase in icates distancaof flight: in yards ofran im pelled'hball, its scale reading from its pivoted end toward its free end. .Aflixed to the base 82, so as to be cooperative with the scale bar 8|, by move! mentof the latter thereover, is a quadrant plate 83,,having a scale graduated to'indicate angle of ball flight.

To exemplify the-use .of the above described mean gained distance indicating device, it will be assumed that the straight line distance from the teeingvoff point to the assumed cup or objective is 350 yards, and it will be further as. sumed that by use of the above described stroke practice apparatus, a given club stroke applied thereto has resulted in an indication that the distance of ball flight attained is 200 yards, but is accompanied by aslice or hook causing anangular diversion of such flight from astraight line tothe extent of 45 degrees. To ascertain under these assumptions what has been the actual distance gained by the stroke toward the objective, the scale bar 8d of the indicating device is outswung over the quadrant plate 83 until its inner edge registers with the 45 degree graduation of the quadrant plate scale, thus denoting the angular diversion of the ball flight from true course.

Holding the scale bar. 8| in this position, the scale bar 89 is next outswung to overlap the scale bar 8!, and is manipulated to cause its inner edge to intersect the scale of said scale bar 8| at the 200,

yard indicating graduation of the latter, thus denoting gross distance of ball flightobtained by the stroke. By then reading :the graduation of the scale of thescale bar 86 which registers with said 290 yard indicating graduation of the scale bar 8!, th'e'mean gaineddistance attained by the involved stroke toward the assumed cup or ob.-

jective will be indicated, vizQElS yards. The mean gained distance oi 95 yards, when subtracted.v

from the 350 yard distance from teeing 011? point to the assumed cup or objective, will show that 255yards must still be gained to reach said cup oz'i' objective. The'method of using the device, thus pursued,.will be understood from an inspec tion of 'thediagr'amof Fig. 36. Frorntheab ove it will be obvious that notwithstanding a drive oi 200 yards was attained by the stroke, yet the actualgain in yardage approach to the assumed cup or objective has been muchreduced, due to thehook or slice produced by the stroke. In this I way the usermay quickly and easily analyze his strokes and the results thereof, 'so' that more effective correction of faults thereof'canbe striven for.

While thedescribed apparatus is primarily adapted for stroke practice, said apparatus and the associated mean gained distance indicating device may also be employed by a plurality of users as a competitive game." In the latter case each player makes a club stroke in turn, and records any angle of hook or slice and gross ball flight yardage resulting therefrom, and then by use of the mean gained distance indicating device ascertaining the net or actual yardage gain toward the assumed cup or objective. These factors of the play are then scored if or each player on a score card 85, such e. g. as shown in Fig. 3'7. Wherein the underscored notations in the hook or slice columns indicate degree of angular diversion of ball flight from a straight line, and the associated non-underscored notations in these columns indicating the gross yardage of ball flight, whereupon the mean or net distance gained is entered in the associated column. The total of the mean distances gained by each player, according to the number of turns or holes played, constituting the players final score. It will be 10 noted, in the exemplifying score card: 8 5 shown in Fig. 37, that although the player Jones attain'ed the greatest gross total yardage by his drives, yet by reason of accompanying greater hook: or slice effects, his net yardage gain was less than that of his competitor Smith, whose gross yardage average less, but, by reason of less slice or hook, his 'net yardage was greater, and consequently Smith wins the competition. From this 'it willbe understood that a very interesting gameis afforded While at the same time club stroke practice is attained.

" I am aware that various changes may be made in the construction and details of the above described apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. It is therefore intended that the constructions shown'and'described are to be inon't'he base structure to releasably hold the carrier arm against lateral displacement from its predetermined initial position and said crank-arm and ballsimulating element erected in position to receive driving impact of a swung golf club, such impact being adapted to revolve the ball simu-. lating element and crank-arm about theaxis of said driveshaft so as to rotate said shaft and thus actuate said dial; mechanism, check means car-- ried on the crank-arm and adapted to engage the detent means to hold the same in operative position, and means to move the detent means to inoperative positionwhen said check means is displaced therefrom by movement of the ball simulating element and crank-arm in responseto.

golf club impact.

2. In a g olf practice apparatus having a-base structure and acarrier-arm pivotally supported.

thereby for swinging movement in horizontal plane either to the right or left from a predetermined normal initial position thereof, a rotatable dial mechanism, for indicating ball flight distance, mounted-on said carrier-arm and including a driveshaftprovidedwith a crank-arm, a ball simulating element connected with the end of said cr-ankearm, a spring. actuated up-swinging detent plate pivota'lly connected-with said base structure, said detent plate having a notched free end adapted, when said detent is depressed against the tension of its spring, to be engaged by the crank-arm, whereby to 'hold the latter and said ball" simulating element in a normal initial up-- standin'giposition for reception of driving impact.

of a swung golf club, andat the same time to dispose said carrier-arm in predetermined normal initial position, and a check member on said crank-arm having a check-nosing to releasably engage and hold the detent plate depressed, impact of a swung golf club upon said ball simulating element being operative to withdraw said check-nosing from and thus release said detent plate and thereupon revolve said ball simulating element and crank-arm about the axis of said 11 driv 's -ft s at to r tate-the latter and thus actuate said dial mechanism,

3. In a golf practice apparatus having a base structure and a carrier-arm, pivotally supported thereby for swinging movement in horizontal plane either to the right or left from a predetermined normal initial position thereof, a rotatable dial mechanism, for indicating ball flight distance, mounted on said carrier-arm and includinga drive shaft provided with a crank-arm, a ball simulating element connected with the end of said crank-arm, a spring actuated up-swinging detent plate pivotally connected with said base structure, said detent plate having a notched free end adapted, when said detent is depressed against the tension of its spring, to be engaged bythe crank-arm, whereby to hold the latter and said ball simulating element in a normal initial upstanding position for reception of driving impact of'a swunggolf club, and'at'the same ,time

to dispose said carrier arm in predetermined nor mal initial position, a check member on said crank-arm having a check-nosing to releasably engage and hold the detent plate depressed, impact of a swung golf club upon said ball simulating element being operative to withdraw said check-nosing from and thnsrelease said detent plate and thereupon revolve said ball simulating element and crank-arm about the axis of said drive shaft so asto rotate the latter and thus actuate said dial-mechanism, and adjustable means for counterbalancing said crank-arm and ball simulating element.

4. A golf practice apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the ball simulating element comprises a semi-spherical body having a coupling eye projecting from its flat underside, said crank-arm terminating in an attachment hook engageable by the coupling eye of said body, andmeans on said crank-arm movable toward the interengaged hook and coupling eye adapted-to bind and hold said ball simulatin element 'in from the crank-arm end;

5. A golf practice apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein the ball simulating element comprises a semi-spherical body having a-coupling eye projecting from its fiat underside, saidcrank-arm terminating in an attachment hook engageable bythe coupling eye of said body, and said check member-being movable on said crank-arm toward the interengaged hookand coupling eye whereby to bind and-- hold said ball-simulatin element in axial extension from the crank-arm.

6. A golf practice apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the ball simulating'elementcomprises a semi-spherical body having a coupling eye pro-' jecting from its fiat underside, said crank-arm terminating in an attachment hook engageable by the coupling eye of said body; and said coupling eye having at one side a portion of reduced crosssection of dimension somewhat .less than the width of a gap between the bill and body of said axial extension hook whereby to admit said coupling eye into the :bight of thehook, whereupon movement of the ball simulating element to normal axially ex.-

by the coupling eye of said body, said coupling eye having at one side .a portion of reduced crosssection of dimension somewhat less than the width of a gap between the bill and body-of said hook, whereby to admit said coupling eye into the bight of the hook, whereupon movement of the ball simulating-element to normal axially extended relation to the crank-arm aligns a portion of the coupling eye of normal cross-section with said hook gap, thus preventing accidental displacement of-the coupling eye from the hook, and means on said crank-arm movable toward the interengaged hook and coupling eye adapted to bind and hold said ball simulating element in said axial extension from the crank-arm.

'8. A golf practice apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein the :ball simulating element comprises a semi-spherical body having a coupling eye projecting from its flat underside, said crank-arm terminating in an attachment hook engageable by the coupling eye of said body, said coupling eye having at one side a portion of reduced crosssection of dimension somewhat less than the width of a gap between the bill and body of said hook, whereby to admit said coupling eye into the bight of the hook, whereupon movement of the ball simulating element'to normal axially extended relation to the crank-arm aligns a portion of-the coupling eye of normal cross-section with said hook gap, thus preventin accidental displacement of the coupling eye from the hook, and said check member being movable on said crank-arm toward the interengaged hook and coupling eye'whereby to bind and hold said ball simulating element in axial extension from the crank-arm.

THOMAS J. BUTLER.

REFERENCES CITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 717,381 Fregos'o Dec. 30, I902 d 791,848 Wilson June 6, I905 888,660 Sears et al'. May 26, I908 1,591,985 Levkowits July 13, 1926 1,697,131 Moi-rill Jan, 1, 1929 1,804,040 Tannehill' May 5, 1931 1,932,049 Ryan Oct. 24, 1933 1,976,405 Le Witt Oct. 9, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS Number (Country Date 276,812" Great "Britain Sept. 8, 1927 

